Plant promoting device



Aug. 18, 1936. L. o. HARBAUGH 2,051,596

PLANT PROMOTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1934 [/men for. 106/7 0. /147"%4zzy% H torneys.

Patented Aug. 18, 1936 7 PLANr PRoMo'rING,,DEvIoEg,

Losh 0.- Harbaugh, Lawrence,-- Ohio Application-,JanuaryllS, 193-4, Serial,N0..7Q6*,612,,

- 141Claims, (0. 47 -28);

Theiinventiongrelates to plant promoting devi ces in; the form of miniature :hothouses, for shelteringJand' hastening the fructificationof young plants; individually: or in groups, the principal object-heingzto.:provide1a device ;of thisgtypethat low; outside atmosphere to- ;reach the plantsfrom around-thebaseof the device yet retain warmth.

in itstop near, the tender shoots ;of the plant.

Another object is ,to provide; a device of this type that can be i assembled ;and placed in; use

easily and quickly; thatwvilleremain andbe rigid when in use, andwhenrnot. infuse berdismantled; collapsed and ,flattenedieasily; and stored in, a

smallcspacee V Another object is tooprovide a plantpromoting device that will resist -highwinds and-stormsandwill not beblown'awaynor flattenedbyzthe ate, ural elements, yet :upon occasion, wheniin use, can be raised and lowered, removed and replaced instantly, and maintain itself at various positions of elevation relative to the earth;

Another object isto provide a plant promotingdevice that may be used seasonafter-season without being rendered unfitby theicutting ortearing of the covering when the plants are-to be acclimated, and that can be salvaged because of the detachability of its parts when otherwise the device would be :rendered uselessif a -br-oken part-could not lie-replaced;

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists of certain novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts to be hereinafter describedwithreference to the accompanying drawing and then claimed ohaving the aboveiand other objects in view. 7

In. the accompanying dilawing,which illustrates suitable embodiments'of the presentlinvention and ,,in which like numeralsgreferto likeparts throughout the severaLviews Figure l is a perspective view. f,.ttQhoodsupporting frameas constructed accq idingqto one form of the invention,

Figure 2 ,is a=perspective View, of .the frame shown in Figure 1 as seenflwhen rcollapsed,and flattened,

shownin Figure 1 vwiththe hood thereon;

FigureA-is-aryiew/ of the -:hood-, separated from the-frameand foldedgand flattened. V

Agficulturists, always -;have beeninterested in being the -first to place agricultural products upon the--mar;ket=to=-the=end that they may take adl5 vantage ofstheahigheripricessobtainable for the firstproduce for the season; In; order to accomplish this, hot -beds,-.-forcing:framesiand hothouses are usedwfor starting-"end developing the early growth oftthe iplants. The plants are kept. sheltered throughouttthis forcing, process. untilrafter the, frost period; whereuponthe plants in their advanced growth are replanted-,in; the open to continuetheir. matunation This plant growth forcing; process has =definite limitations paste the time-tohe-gainediin hastening the early growthof plants. The seeds must'; be -plant ed, in.;the:hothouses: just ,far, enough aheadthat the; plants will beready and, not too, crowded -or-too old for transplanting whenqthe frostperiod' ends. .20,

In, providing-miniature shQt ,houses, for. individual plants, ,thegtime involved: in, the forcing processfor young plants. may be? lengthened-by the plan-tsrbeing set out beforewthe frost.,.,period,endsunden the protectionaof-p miniature;- hothouses. Or, itthe agriculturisthas rnohothouses ionother plant growth tforcingpmeans, the miniature hothouse williselvegin lieuathereof, performingthe same? function. This latter. method eliminatesthet-replanting,since.:the. seeds may (be planted in. the place whereithepl-ant isto. mature ,andfthe miniatune hothouse rwould: begused. (there. to force. and protect the agerminationaand early growth.

In: promotingsand, hastening, the early growth, of. plants, :under miniature hothouses creatures performing acts harmfultoryoung plants.- and the rigorous elements-.- ,have to be, contended (with. TheminiatureshQthouse must! not any, protect the plants,,from,.,such ,dangers, but must xbe.v able. to, overcome the dangers to. .be. ableto. protect the plantssfromwthemv; Vulnerability, of the. III [Dian turelhothouse,toa ypne ofithe dangers .-.willdee featrthezpurppsenofua, miniature hot house. Y It.is, apparent? then ,that aadevicei must I be...providedwhich will-,overcome all theelemehtS. and. acts of C18%t-l,11leS which. are; dangerous, to the, early, growth of. theplants,

In,,a idition;ttonthis to. be practicable; the., .device must beconvenientto place in use, handle,

remove-,from,;use,- and,,stor-e.- To save timeafor the agriculturist, who ghas large, :fields,-, planted, thegdevices rmllsf; -beecapable ofwbeing raised and lowered removed and-,rreplaced instantly whenthe. plants-are t-loeing,--,cultivated.-, ,-Otherwise gthe. costiofwlabon, andaloss rof timehin handling, the,

devices would be prohibitive. The devices should be capable of being collapsed and stored quickly, in large numbers in a small space, during the period they are not in use.

In furthering the general efficiency of such a device, same should be capable of acclimating v the plants preparatory to its final removal without being destroyed or rendered unfit for following seasons.

To these ends and other ends this device and invention has been designed.

In its broad aspect the invention comprises a relatively concave hood provided with earth penetrative means, for securing the hood relative to the earth, and such means preferably formed and fashioned to increase its friction with the earth and be less subject to dislodgment relative to the, earth. Where a frame for supporting the hood is provided, same may be made of wire, reed, strips of metal or wood, and any other pliable material. Although the frame may comprise a multiplicity of vertical supports directed and converged inwardly at their upper ends where they are terminally joined to one another at a central axis of the frame, and although three or more of these supports may be employed, yet for the purpose of simplicity and economy in production, pairs of the vertically extending supports may be formed integrally with each other in the form of an arch, and such pairs associated together at their longitudinal centers at the central axis of the frame in a fixed, pivotal or detachable relation. When the vertical supports are integrated into pairs, two or more pairs may be provided. For purposes of simple illustration, two pairs only are shown in the accompanying drawing in a preferred form.

Referring to Figure 1, two inverted U-shaped pairs of vertical supports are shown joined together in pivotal engagement at the central axis of the frame. The pair of integrated supports 3 and 3" is perpendicularly twisted one turn at its longitudinal center into neck II and a circular eyelet head I. The pair of integrated supports 3' and 3" is horizontally looped at its longitudinal center one turn around neck II in the form of a collar 2. Collar 2 may be provided rigidly tight around neck II or pivotally loose. If collar 2 is formed pivotally loose relative to neck II the respective pairs of supports may be circumferentially rotated relative to each other at any angle and also to occupy the same plane, or if collar 2 is rigidly joined. to neck II,- the supports 3, 3, 3 and 3" are positioned at their longitudinal centers at equal complementary angles relative to each other.

In the larger forms of the invention, the frame supports may be horizontally braced and spaced intermediate their extremities by a means detachably and pivotally engaged with one of two diametrically opposing supports, or both, so as to be able to rotate onits central axis from a horizontal position to a vertical plane coinciding with the plane of the engaged supports. Referring to Figure 1 for a simple illustration of this, the support spacing means is a ring .4 inwardly offset at equal circumferential distances, providing recesses 5,5, 5" and 5" for engaging, and spacing supports 3, 3 3" and 3" respectively, just above recesses 6,15 6" and 6" which are provided, inwardly inclined, in supports 3, 3', 3" and 3" equidistant from the longitudinal centers of the said integrated support pairs for-engaging a cover securing means to be hereinafter described. The ring 4 is held horizontally in place when in contact with the said supports above and upon the upper arms of support recesses 6, 6, 6 and 6". Pivotal engagement of ring 4 relative to one of the supports, support 3, is accomplished by support 3 being loosely looped in form of loop 8 above recess 6 around ring 4 at recess 5 on ring 4, whereby ring 4 may be teetered up or down in loop 8 to a vertical plane depending upon the direction in which loop 8 is formed.

Although the earth penetrative means for securing the plant promoting device relative to the earth may be of any suitable form such as wire-like, tubular, wedge-shaped, flanged or otherwise, yet the embodiment of the invention is illustrated with wire. And although the earth penetrative means may be provided separate from the frame and adapted to engage the frame; this embodiment is illustrated by a means integral with the frame. Referring to Figure l, the earth penetrative means is in the form of legs 13, I3, I3" and I3" as extensions or continuations of supports 3, 3', 3" and 3" respectively, below recesses 6, 6', 6" and 6" in said supports, so that any downward force exerted on the upper ends of said supports would be transmitted directly to the legs.

For the purpose of increasing the friction between the earth and the earth penetrative means, so that the latter will offer greater resistance to being dislodged relative to the former, the earth penetrative means may be provided with means adapted to accomplish this purpose. Such a means for increasing dislodgment resistance relative to the earth, may be a separate attachment such as a disc, knob, nodule or other irregular form on the earth penetrative means, or the earth penetrative means itself may be fashioned, formed, irregularly bent or deformed to irregularly displace the earth when thrust into the earth. A simple illustration of this embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein the legs I3, I3, I3" and I3 are laterally offset to form wave-like irregularities 1, I, l and 1" respectively, which obviously offer greater resistance to being moved relative to the earth once they engage the earth. The degree of resistance may be varied by the angle of the offset. The means for increasing the friction between the earth and the earth penetrative means of the invention will also serve the purpose to hold and secure the device at various positions of elevation relative to the earth, depending upon the depth to which the earth penetrative means and the increasing friction means are placed in the earth. To facilitate insertion into the earth, the lower extremil ties of the earth penetrative means may be sharpened or narrowed, or obliquely-cut crosswise as shown by 9, 9', 9" and 9.

The covering for the frame may be made out of any adaptable, preferably translucent, material such as paper, cloth, Cellophane, comparatively thin rubber or other similar substances of a weather-resistingnature, and may be in the form of a fiat disc, tubular, bag-like, or otherwise of a'form adaptable to fit a concave frame. And although such covering material may be formed and fashioned separately to fit the frame, the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated'in Figures 3 and 4 is a circular disc for fitting over the frame itself.

The covering when applied to the frame is securely closed around neck II above collar 2 in manner suitable to keep out insects and natural elements, and at its marginal edges is secured to the frame at the horizontally inclined supace was porn-bracing means, ring 4.. Several ways may be employed to secure the covering to the frame at ring 4. Clips may be used, fitting over ring "4 and adapted to secure the'covering relative thereto, or a resilient ring means may be provided. Such a ring means would-be biased-"to expand if employed to fit within the concavity of the frame where it would hold the marginal edges of the covering upon inside of said concavity, or

such ringmeans could be biasedtocontract as illustrated by band toin the drawing. Band I!) slips down over the covering and the outside of the frame along the vertical supports 3, 3', 3 and 3" until it reaches recesses, 8, i3 and 6" in said supports, respectively, when, because of its resilient capacity for contraction, it draws or springs into said recesses, drawing the lower and marginal edges of the covering in, underand snugly against ring 4, the covering being secured thereby between band and ring 4.

To use the device when assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 3, place same over the plant or place where seed is planted, and push the legs l3, l3, l3" and I3 far down into the earth until ring 4 and band I 0 are imbedded in the loose earth. This isolates a region surrounding the plant from the outside atmosphere, permits the beneficial rays of the sun to reach the isolated region and protects said region from influences harmful to the sheltered plant.

While the plants are being cultivated, use the circular head I to lift the device from over the plant. After the cultivation of the plant is accomplished the device is replaced as above described. When the plants have reached sufficient maturity to be exposed to the outside atmosphere, the exposure may be done gradually. By using head I to raise the device a short distance above the earth, circulation of fresh outside atmosphere is effected between the lower edge of the covering and the earth, while the warmth is retained in the top of the device nearest to the tender shoots. Various positions of elevation of the device relative to the earth enables a gradually increasing acclimation of the plants to the outside atmosphere preparatory to the final removal of the device. The earth friction increasing means as illustrated by the leg formation I, I, T and 1" will determine and retain the device at its various positions of elevation relative to the earth.

To collapse the illustrated device for storage purposes after the same is finally removed from over the plants, remove band I 0 from its engagement with the frame, and by means of opening l2 in band I0, pass band I!) through head I. Push ring 4 up and off the upper arms of recesses 6 6" and 6" and then rotate ring 4 in loop 8 by pushing the side of ring 4 at recess 5 or 5" up or down as permitted by the direction in which loop 8 is formed until ring 4 occupies the plane of supports 3 and 3". Next rotate collar 2 around neck I l until supports 3 and 3 are parallel with supports 3 and 3". Fold the covering over and flatten it against supports 3, 3, 3" and 3 if not removed from the frame over head I and folded as shown in Figure 4. Then pass head I over a wire or rod until the device is needed for another season, at which time the above process will be reversed.

It is obvious that the specific construction is capable of various modifications and changes, and accordingly, formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention shown without departing from the substance or spirit said hood member at various "of the broad inventicnthe scope of which is-com mensurate with the appended claims.

I claim:--- V I A plant promoting device comprising a hood -memberfor covering plants and isolating a region surrounding the plants from outside atmosphere, earth penetrative means for securing the hood member rel-ative to the earth, and earth 'penetrae tion resisting means for retaining said hood memher at various positions of elevation relative to the imemberfor covering plants and isolating a region surrounding the plants from outside atmosphere,

earth penetrative means for securing the hood member relative to the earth, and means integral with the earth securing means, adapted to retain positions of elevatlon relative to the earth. r

3. A-plant'promoting device comprising a-hoo supporting frame for covering plants, means for securing the frame relative to theearth, means adapted to retain said frame at various positions of elevation relative to the earth, a wwther resisting covering on the frame for isolating a region around the plants from outside atmosphere.

4. A plant promoting device comprising a hood supporting frame for covering plants, earth penetrative means for securing the frame relative to the earth, and earth penetration resisting means for retaining said frame at various positions of elevation relative to the earth, a covering on said frame for isolating a region around the plants from outside atmosphere.

5. A plant promoting device comprising a hood supporting frame for covering plants, earth penetrative means provided with means adjacent lower extremity thereof adapted to displace earth and resist removal of earth penetrative means relative to the earth.

6. In a miniature hot house, earth penetrative means provided with laterally offset portions adapted to secure the device against dislodgement and retain same at various positions of elevation relative to the earth.

7. In a plant promoting device, a hoodsupporting frame comprising a multiplicity of vertical supports directed inwardly at their upper ends and pivotally jointed at their intersecting portions, and an integral projection on one of said joined at their apexes, and releasable means engaging said supports and adapted to retain same in a spaced relation.

9. In a plant promoting device, a hood supporting frame comprising supports pivotally joined at their upper extremities and provided at their lower ends with earth penetrative and earth penetration resisting means adapted to secure said frame relative to the earth and at various positions of elevation to the earth.

10. In a plant promoting device, a hood, a'hood supporting frame comprising supports pivotally joined at their upper ends and having laterally offset portions intermediate their ends providing seats and abutments, an annular means engaging said seats for retaining the supports in aspaced relation, and annular means positioned against said abutments' for retaining the hood relative to the frame.

11. In a plant promoting device, a hood supporting frame comprising supporting members joined at their upper endsand having laterally offset portions-intermediate their ends, annular means engaging said offset portions for securing said supports in spaced relation, and other annular means also engaging said oflset portions and co-acting with said annular spacing means for securing a cover on said device.

12. In a plant promoting device, a hood supporting frame comprising supporting members pivotally associated at their upper ends about one of their number formed to provide a handle, said members being ofiset intermediate the pivot and their lower extremities, a means operatively engaging said support at the ofisets for spacing said support, a hood for said frame, and means cooperating with said support-spacing means for securing the lower edges of said hood thereto.

13. A plant promoting device comprising interengaged hood supporting frame members spaced for covering plants, a cover on said frame memsurrounding the plants from outside atmosphere,

earth penetrative means for securing the hood member relative to the earth, and earth dislodging, penetration resisting means for retaining said hood member at various positions of elevation relative to the earth'without the penetrative means being withdrawn from the earth when changing a position of elevation.

LOSH O. HARBAUGH. 20 

